The result of all this has been the widespread demonization of Vladimir Putin throughout America, expressed in harsh, dismissive language by journalists, academics and politicians of all stripes and both parties. He’s a killer, they say, a tyrant, a gangster.

And then along comes Donald Trump, a brash, undisciplined developer with no political background or foreign policy sophistication. But somehow he sees what the vast majority of establishment denizens can’t seem to perceive. He says, essentially: There’s something wrong here. Putin seems to be doing what any effective leader would do in the same circumstances. He could easily take Ukraine’s eastern regions militarily and nobody could stop him, but he hasn’t. His proposals for a negotiated settlement have been summarily rejected by the West. He’s true to his allies in the Middle East, such as Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, in sharp contrast to President Obama, who threw over Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for no particular reason. He could become a significant geopolitical counterweight to a rising China, which is emerging as a major U.S. adversary. So, I think I could get along with the guy, and I certainly think it’s worth a try.

It’s unfortunate that Trump doesn’t know how to press his case with finesse. But his instincts merit some respect, as does his fortitude in taking on a foreign policy outlook that is so thoroughly embedded in elite thinking throughout the country. But then, one reason Trump seems to beguile so many Americans, as reflected in the polls, has been his willingness to slam the elites that have left the nation mired in such a civic mess.

Of course the West must always fortify itself against any possible encroachment by the Russian bear, as it has had to do for centuries. But that doesn’t mean America and Europe need to pursue their own policies of encroachment or employ the kind of bellicose diplomatic language that destroys prospects for finding common ground on matters of mutual interest. The country is on the wrong course on this powerful diplomatic matter. Nobody in politics seems to see it or care about it—except Donald Trump. Kudos to him.

If I were going to be there, I’d say we ought to all retire after it to the Old Monk, get sloshy on great beer, and try to talk Larison into teepeeing the nearby Bush Institute. But see, that’s why they like me idling on the bayou, a threat to no one’s dignity but my own. Such as it is.

After the Cold War, talking with Russians…it became very noticible how our alleged Free Press was
infinitely more demonic and propaganda ridden than whatever the USSR state media was accused of. Unlike American shaped attitudes toward the USSR, they consistently did not see Americans or the US as a threat or an enemy.

So the NeoNutz still like to portray Russia like its 1960 while hugging the Turks, the Pakistan folks and the Sauds who pose an infinitely greater threat to the survival of the West than the Russian cub.

bwa! just got my invitation for this yesterday, but am already overbooked for the next few weeks (to include WPW, which you announced many moons ago!). would be nice if TAC created a way to sponsor this particular event (for those of us stuck in the beltway hinterlands) without having to be there. if you’re often in contact with jeremy b, consider proposing the idea! i, at least, would support it 🙂

Sounds like a great foreign policy talk but I have to disagree that Putin completely blundered Ukraine and his Syria support did not go well. In fact somebody can trace the fall of oil prices to investors panicking on the Russian Ruble and the prices starting falling in 2014.